Athens police arrest South Carolina man in catfishing scheme
Caleb Mills (Athens-Clarke County Police Department)
ATHENS, Ga. - The Athens-Clarke County Police Department arrested a South Carolina man following an investigation into an online catfishing operation that defrauded multiple victims.
Athens online fraud scheme
What we know:
Caleb Mills of South Carolina was arrested July 20 for identity fraud and related fraudulent offenses, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Investigators said Mills used fictitious photos and fake identities to operate a "catfishing" scheme to defraud individuals.
Police noted that additional victims have been identified as the investigation moves forward. Officials urge community members to use caution when developing online relationships, especially if someone they have never met asks for money, gifts, or material items.
Unanswered questions in catfishing case
What we don't know:
Police have not released details regarding the total financial loss or the exact number of victims involved in the scheme. Authorities have also not specified how Mills initially made contact with the victims.
Reporting fraudulent activity
What you can do:
Anyone who suspects they may be a victim of this scheme or any other fraudulent activity should file a report with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Sgt. Nathaniel Franco at 762-400-7100 or Nathaniel.Franco@accgov.com.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, which detailed the arrest and ongoing investigation in an official public statement.